Taking shape

Volunteers pitch in for Habitats biggest-ever local project

At last week’s kickoff ceremony for the
construction of Habitat for Humanity’s largest-ever project in
Sangamon County, the presiding cleric couldn’t get anything right.
Every time the Rev. Chuck Edwards mentioned that the house would be home to
Patty Redpath and her seven kids, 2-year-old Olivia Redpath corrected him
— loudly. “No!” she shouted, aiming her tiny index finger
at the priest. “It’s Mommy!”Aside from that snafu, however, the first few
“blitz” days of the build went so well, the house has taken
identifiable shape. “There’s rooms inside!” Patty gushes.
“I think the kids are pretty awestruck.”Patty formed her family through adoption, with seven
children ranging in age from 2 to 17. All were born to mothers addicted to
drugs or alcohol; most have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and
some have additional special needs [see Dusty Rhodes, “Seventh
heaven,” April 24]. Her older kids have been helping with the
construction — 17-year-old Joey even worked on the roof. Dana Plummer, executive director of Habitat for
Humanity of Sangamon County, says the Redpath family has attracted an
unusually generous team of donors and volunteers. Two Illinois Times readers each donated
$1,000 and pitched in to help with the build. Another volunteer working on
site last Saturday realized that the Redpath family would need a backyard
fence and offered to donate one. “We had people after the article coming in
randomly making small donations,” Plummer says. “I’ve
never seen such support for a family as I have for this one.”Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, who attended Sacred
Heart-Griffin with Redpath, surprised her by attending the kickoff
ceremony. In an e-mail, city spokesman Ernie Slottag explains
why: “He truly had a genuine interest in wanting to see the Habitat
process firsthand.”The project hasn’t been without controversy.
Some officers in the homeowners’ association of Eastview Estates,
where the Redpath home is being built, argue that her home will decrease
their property values, partly because Habitat homes don’t have
basements. Redpath says one neighboring family has ignored her greetings. “Others have been lovely, just lovely. Over
time, I’m hoping, it will be fine,” she says. “What
I’m being told is that it’s less about us and more about not
wanting Habitat here — but it is personal for me, because at this
point I am Habitat.” Contact Dusty Rhodes at drhodes@illinoistimes.com.